"Do We Have to Dig Up the Ground to Pay?" Citizens Outraged Over No Refunds for Academies and Kindergartens

Consumers Angry Over Unrefunded Payments Due to Temporary Closures
Experts Say "Government Intervention Needed if Disputes Increase"

A parent is sending their child to kindergarten.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] "Who isn't struggling right now? Do consumers dig up the ground to pay money?"

Recently, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the start of the school year for kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide has been postponed by three weeks. Some academies and sports facilities have also closed temporarily. As a result, citizens are frustrated because they have not received refunds despite the consecutive closures.

There are claims that the refusal of refunds by academies, kindergartens, and wedding halls is unfair to consumers. In particular, in the case of kindergartens, controversy is growing as parents bear the cost of education even though children are being cared for at home due to the delayed school opening.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 12th, from 12 a.m. on the 11th to 12 a.m. on the 12th, the number of confirmed cases increased by 114. The total number of confirmed cases was recorded at 7,869.

As health authorities actively recommend avoiding enclosed spaces, practicing social distancing, and refraining from going out to prevent infection, some academies and sports facilities have closed temporarily. The CDCH announced management guidelines targeting group facilities or multi-use facilities with a high risk of droplet or contact infection in enclosed spaces. This includes academies, sports centers, karaoke rooms, PC rooms, and clubs.

Given the situation, consumers agree that temporary closures are appropriate for infection prevention but find it difficult to accept the refusal of refunds.

A 23-year-old job seeker, A, said, "The computer academy I was attending to prepare for employment also stopped classes," adding, "They said the suspension is indefinite until the situation stabilizes, but refunds are not available." She continued, "I have not worked part-time for over two weeks due to COVID-19, so it is hard to cover living expenses. I am angry because the academy fee is already paid and they say no refunds. They say they will carry it over, but I don't need that; I just want a refund."

A 31-year-old office worker, B, said, "I understand the difficult situation, but it's not only self-employed people who are struggling. As the economy worsens due to the epidemic, office workers are also forced to take unpaid leave for one to two weeks," adding, "I paid money for a product or service, but it is absurd to think that consumers pay money without receiving anything in return."

On the morning of January 31, a notice announcing the suspension of district library clubs and programs was posted at the Daerim Information and Culture Library in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Parents with children attending kindergarten have also demanded refunds. Netizen C said, "I haven't sent my child to kindergarten since mid-last month, but they are asking for the March tuition even though they haven't refunded two weeks," adding, "If they provided emergency care, it wouldn't feel unfair, but I don't understand why refunds are not given."

On the 10th, Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated at the National Assembly Education Committee plenary meeting that special activity fees and transportation fees should be refunded, not tuition fees.

Minister Yoo said, "Tuition fees are paid by dividing the annual tuition over 12 months, so tuition fees are not refundable," adding, "We will distinguish between tuition and other fees and set refund standards and guidelines according to public and private kindergartens."

Experts suggest that since legal standards are unclear, there is a need to establish contract standards.

Attorney Baek Seong-moon said on the CBS radio program 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 10th, "If the terms are excessively disadvantageous to customers, they should be invalid, but where the line is drawn for a natural disaster is unclear," emphasizing, "Because there are individual differences in criteria, the concept of disadvantage should not be too fluid."

Attorney Baek added, "From the business owner's perspective, it is unreasonable, so if disputes increase, the government needs to intervene and organize to some extent," but also said, "Both business owners and consumers are in a difficult situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.